Wales Toyota workers await March announcement on production plans
publication date: Feb 24, 2010
Toyota expects to make an announcement about future production plans for its Deeside and Burnaston plants in the middle of March.
Toyota Motor Corp., which told Bloomberg News last week it will cut production of its Yaris small car in Valenciennes, France, by 18pc, says it also will trim output of Auris compact cars and Avensis large sedans at its UK plant in Burnaston, which is supplied with engines from the Deeside factory.
Burnaston is scheduled for a one-week shutdown during Easter. Toyota, as reported by Bloomberg, says it will suspend production there for a second week and operate at reduced output thereafter.
In 2009, Toyota Group sold 730,800 vehicles in Europe, down nearly 5pc, but demand for small cars in Europe has declined as scrappage incentives end. It has also been hit by a sales slowdown in Europe as a result of the quality recalls.
In the UK it told employees on Monday that it expects to reduce its workforce by about 750 places by August following last year’s announcement to move to single line car production in Derby.